Reduction of Haptic Noise Feedback in System

ABSTRACT

An information handling system has a haptic generation module to generate haptic effects including haptic noise and a haptic noise reduction module. The haptic noise reduction module receives characteristics of sound representative of haptic noise generated by a haptic generation module of a device and entering an audio input module of the device, the characteristics including frequencies and timing. It also detects the generation of haptic effects, the generations occurring after the receiving characteristics. It also reduces the effects of haptic noise on digital data representing audio input to the device based upon the received characteristics of the sound. It may reduce the effects by subtracting amplitudes of audio waves representing the haptic noise from amplitudes of audio waves representing the audio input.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/662,922, entitled “Reduction of Haptic Noise Feedback in System,”filed on Oct. 29, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby expresslyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to information handlingsystems, and more particularly relates to a reduction of feedback fromhaptic noise.

BACKGROUND

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option is an information handling system. An information handlingsystem generally processes, compiles, stores, or communicatesinformation or data for business, personal, or other purposes.Technology and information handling needs and requirements can varybetween different applications. Thus information handling systems canalso vary regarding what information is handled, how the information ishandled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, andhow quickly and efficiently the information can be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allowinformation handling systems to be general or configured for a specificuser or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airlinereservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. Inaddition, information handling systems can include a variety of hardwareand software resources that can be configured to process, store, andcommunicate information and can include one or more computer systems,graphics interface systems, data storage systems, and networkingsystems. Information handling systems can produce haptic effects toenhance user experience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relativeto other elements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the presentdisclosure are shown and described with respect to the drawings herein,in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile device according to an embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the production of sound that entersan audio subsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the removal of haptic noise from anaudio input stream according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the removal of haptic noise from anaudio input stream according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an information handling systemaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description in combination with the Figures is provided toassist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein. The descriptionis focused on specific implementations and embodiments of the teachings,and is provided to assist in describing the teachings. This focus shouldnot be interpreted as a limitation on the scope or applicability of theteachings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an information handling system such as a mobiledevice 100. For purposes of this disclosure, the information handlingsystem may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, entertainment, or other purposes. Forexample, an information handling system may be a personal computer, aPDA, a consumer electronic device, a network server or storage device, aswitch router or other network communication device, or any othersuitable device and may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality,and price. The information handling system may include memory, one ormore processing resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) orhardware or software control logic, and operates to execute code.Additional components of the information handling system may include oneor more storage devices that can store code, one or more communicationsports for communicating with external devices as well as various inputand output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a videodisplay. An information handling system may generate haptic effects toenhance a user's experience.

In a particular embodiment, mobile device 100 includes haptic noisegenerator 110, haptic noise reducer 115, microphone 120, coder/decoder(codec) 125, controller 130, printed circuit board 135, chassis 140, andskin 145. Haptic noise generator 110 may generate noise during theproduction of haptic effects. Haptic is a tactile feedback technologythat may utilize a user's sense of touch by applying forces, vibrations,or motions to the user to enhance the user's experience with a computingdevice. The effects may provide notice to a user. A cellular telephonemay, for example, produce vibrations to alert a user to an incoming callwhen the ring tone is disabled. The effects may also provide feedback tothe user of the device. The device may, for example, produce a sensationof resistance and movement when a user touches keys displayed on a flatsurface. The sensation may be caused by the production of vibrations orby an actual change in the shape of the surface. As a result, the userhas the sensation of depressing the keys and may be better able tocontrol typing. In this case, the noise production may be anafter-effect of the production of the sensation, rather than the goal ofthe haptic generation. There may be some variance in the production ofhaptic noise by haptic noise generator 110. An application may controlthe frequency or the duration of haptic noise generation, or both. Afrequency for haptic noise generation may, for example, be input withthe on-switch. Thus, separate applications may generate haptic noise atseparate frequencies.

Haptic effects may be produced by a variety of mechanisms. Haptic noisemay be generated electrically, mechanically, or by other methods knownin the art. A transducer converts electrical current directly into soundby sending current through a piezo-electric crystal, causing changes toits shape under the piezoelectric effect. As a result, the crystal emitsa sound. To produce sound mechanically, a motor may move a weight backand forth, thereby producing vibrations. In some embodiments, hapticnoise generator 110 may move skin 145 back and forth. Skin 145 mayconsequently act like a speaker, producing outward-directed sound waves.In other embodiments, haptic noise generator 110 may change the shape ofskin 145 by applying pressure to it.

Microphone 120 may receive sound waves and convert them into electricalwaves. The sound waves may produce vibrations in a diaphragm, a thinplate contained in the microphone; and the vibrations of the diaphragmmay induce electrical signals. These electrical signals may betransmitted to codec 125, which converts the electrical waves to digitalforms. Codec 125 may measure the electrical signals produced by themicrophone at a predetermined frequency (sample′ the signals), dividethe amplitudes of the waves into ranges, and record the ranges. Some ofthese frequencies may be in the range of ordinary speech. The result maybe, for each sample period and each sample range, a value of anamplitude of frequencies in the range during the period. Codeccontroller is connected to, and controlled by, codec controller 130.

The sound received by microphone 120 may include haptic noise. In someembodiments, microphone 120 may directly pick up haptic noise generatedby haptic noise generator 110 and transmitted to a user. Microphone 120may, for example, be a two-way microphone capable of picking up soundtransmitted from mobile device 100 to a user as well as sound sent intomobile device 100. Microphone 120 may also pick up haptic noise by itstransmission through the physical components of mobile device 100, suchas printed circuit board 135, chassis 140, and skin 145. Soundtravelling through these components may cause vibrations in thediaphragm of microphone 120, which are then converted to electricalsignals.

The haptic noise picked up by microphone 120 may interfere with audiocommunications by mobile device 100. A user may, for example, issuevoice commands to a voice-activated subsystem of mobile device 100 ormay speak into microphone 120 to carry on a voice communication withanother party. In either case, the haptic noise picked up by microphone120 may interfere with the intended audio communications.

Haptic noise reducer 115 may attempt to reduce or cancel noise producedby haptic noise generator 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, haptic noisereducer 115 is connected to haptic noise generator 110 and codec 125.Haptic noise reducer 115 may receive notice from haptic noise generator110 that it has instituted the production of haptic noise. It may thenreceive from codec 125 a digital representation of sound input intomicrophone 120. Haptic noise reducer 115 may then process the digitalrepresentation to attempt to remove the haptic noise. The processing maybe based upon characteristics of the haptic noise that is produced byhaptic noise generator 100 and that enters microphone 120 or anotheraudio subsystem of mobile device 100. The characteristics may includefrequencies, amplitudes, and timing. As with the sound input, thecharacteristics of haptic noise may be represented by digital datarepresenting amplitudes of the noise at the sample periods.

In some embodiments, determining the characteristics may be based upon amodel of haptic noise generator 100. The model may take intoconsideration the mechanical and structural components of haptic noisegenerator 110 and mobile device 100, such as printed circuit board 135,chassis 140, and skin 145. The model may take into account thetransmission of haptic noise through the physical components of mobiledevice 100. Applying the model may result in determining frequencies,amplitudes, and timing of haptic noise generated by haptic noisegenerator 110 and entering microphone 120. In other embodiments,determining the characteristics of the haptic noise that is produced byhaptic noise generator 110 may be based upon experimentation. The hapticnoise for the device may, for example, be generated in a quietenvironment and amplitudes of peak frequencies measured. Thus, thehaptic noise may be characterized by digital data representing thenoise. The haptic noise may, for example, be characterized bydetermining that it produces a peak of sound around a frequency of 2kilohertz and measuring amplitudes of sound at that frequency. Theexperiment may be performed upon each unit or upon a sample of units. Inthe latter case, the calibration of the haptic noise reducer 115 may bebased upon an average unit. For example, some units of a particularmodel may be tested and the results generalized over all units of themodel. As another example, tests may be performed over models of a groupof similar models, and the results generalized over all units of thegroup of models.

Once haptic noise reducer 115 has received digital data representingsound input into microphone 120, notice that haptic noise is beingproduced, and characteristics of the haptic noise, haptic noise reducer115 may attempt to remove the haptic noise from the digital data orotherwise reduce the effects of the haptic noise. In some embodiments,haptic noise reducer 115 may attempt to eliminate haptic frequencies andtheir overtones from the output of codec 125. Such an approach mayrepresented by the following equation:

Output_(audio)=Input_(audio) −F _(reduction)(Freq_(haptic))  (1)

where F represents a frequency or frequencies to be subtracted from theaudio input. As indicated by the equation, haptic noise reducer 115 mayoperate on the digital data produced by codec 125 by subtracting from itthe digital data representing the haptic noise. The subtraction may beperformed by subtracting amplitudes representing the haptic noise fromamplitudes representing the sound input. In some embodiments, thedigital values representing ranges of amplitudes for the audio input maybe converted into actual amplitudes, and the amplitudes representing thehaptics noise may be subtracted. A value representing a range may beconverted, for example, into the midpoint of the range, the geometricmean of the minimum and maximum values for the range, or some othervalue within the range.

In many embodiments, the subtracted amplitudes representing the hapticnoise may be the actual amplitudes of the digital data representing thehaptic noise. In other embodiments, however, haptic noise reducer 115may subtract from the digital data representing the sound inputamplitudes different than the actual amplitudes of the digital datarepresenting the haptic noise. This procedure may be based upon a modelthat determines that the combination of sound sources is not necessarilylinear. In several embodiments, haptic noise reducer 115 may eliminatehaptic frequencies and their overtones from frequencies outside of thenormal speaking range and leave unchanged the output of codec 125 in thenormal speaking range. In a few embodiments, haptic noise reducer 115may take the opposite approach, attempting to remove haptic noise fromfrequencies in the normal speaking range and leaving unchangedfrequencies outside the normal speaking range.

To perform the subtraction, haptic noise reducer 115 may have tosynchronize the digital data and the data representing characteristicsof the haptic noise, determining which amplitudes of the haptic noisecharacteristics correspond to which amplitudes of the digital data. Insome embodiments, haptic noise reducer 115 may assume that the hapticnoise generator 110 acts instantaneously. For practical purposes, it maynot begin counteracting the haptic noise until it has already beengenerated, or for practical purposes, the generation may be nearlyinstantaneous. In other embodiments, a lag between the notice and theoperation of haptic noise reducer 115 may be programmed in. The lag timemay be based on a duration between the beginning of the generation ofhaptic noise and its transmittal through components of mobile device 100to microphone 120.

In further embodiments, different types of haptic noise may be generateddepending on the circumstances. Some applications may generate one typeof haptic noise and other applications may generate another type ofhaptic noise. Alternatively, an application may generate different kindsof haptic noise for different purposes. In these further embodiments,the characteristics of each type of haptic noise may be determined.Haptic noise reducer 110 may receive notice from haptic noise generator110 both of the start of generation of haptic noise and of the type ofhaptic noise being generated. Haptic noise reducer 110 may attempt toremove the particular type of haptic noise being generated from theaudio input. It may, for example, subtract amplitudes representing theparticular type of haptic noise from the amplitudes of the digital data.

In other embodiments, a haptic noise reducer may receive a signal thathaptic noise generation has begun from a module other than the hapticnoise generator. A module that signals the haptic noise generator tobegin may, for example, also signal the haptic noise reducer. In manyembodiments, haptic noise reducer may be combined with codec controller130. In those embodiments, codec controller 130 may be notified thathaptic noise generation has been instituted and may modify the operationof codec 125 to reduce haptic noise. In still other embodiments,information-handling systems other than mobile devices, such as desktopsand laptops, may produce haptic effects and may reduce their effect uponsound input to the system by integrating the sound input system and thehaptic noise generator. In many embodiments, a sound intake subsystemmay consist of multiple microphones.

In a few embodiments, the codec and the haptics noise reducer may becombined. In some of these embodiments, amplitudes representing thehaptics noise may be directly subtracted from amplitudes representingthe audio input. The difference may then be converted into the ranges ofdigital data.

FIG. 2 illustrates the production of sound 200 entering an audiosubsystem according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thesound may be produced by a system such as mobile device 100 of FIG. 1.The sound production includes haptic noise generation by haptic noisegenerator 210. Haptic noise generator 210 may produce noise 220mechanically, by a motor, or electrically, through the piezo/electriceffect. The production of noise may be the end goal of the hapticeffects generation, or may be the side effect of some other effect, suchas changing the texture of a touch screen or offering resistance to thetouch of the user. Noise 220 combines with the sound represented bysound waves 230. These sound waves may represent user speech, either fortransmission to another user or for commands to a computing device, orother sound intended as input to a computing device. The combined soundmay be received by microphone 240 and transformed by a codec such ascodec 125 of FIG. 1 into digital data. The noise 220 may interfere withthe sound represented by sound waves 230. A person or system receivingthe combined sound may be unable to separate out or otherwise determinethe sound waves 230. In such a case, it may be desirable to reduce theeffects of the haptic noise by integrating its production with the audiosubsystem 250.

FIG. 3 illustrates the removal of haptic noise from an audio inputstream according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The hapticnoise may be generated by a system such as mobile device 100 of FIG. 1by a process such as that illustrated in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, input to acomponent such as haptic noise reducer 115 of FIG. 1 may include soundfrom an audio input stream 310. The audio stream may be generated by acombination of haptic noise and speech or other user input to a soundsystem of a device. The input may also include data about hapticfrequency and activation 320. This data may represent notice to a hapticnoise reducer of the activation of haptic noise and data about thefrequencies and amplitudes of the resultant haptic noise. In manyembodiments, the data about the haptic noise may be in the form ofdigital data. At block 330, the haptic noise reducer may remove thehaptic noise from the digital stream or otherwise reduce the effects ofthe haptic noise. The reduction may be implemented by subtracting theamplitudes of the digital data representing the haptic noise from theamplitudes of the digital data representing the audio input stream. As aresult of the subtraction of the haptic noise from the audio stream, atblock 340 the system may output an audio stream with the haptic noisereduced.

FIG. 4 shows a method 400 for the removal of haptic noise from an audioinput stream. Method 400 begins at block 405 with determiningcharacteristics of haptic noise generated by a mobile device or otherinformation handling system. The determination includes thedetermination of the frequency and timing of noise emitted by hapticsystem at block 410. A vibration to notify a user may occurperiodically, for example, as a series of pulses. Information gatheredabout the haptic noise may include the period of the vibration. In somecases, if different types of haptic noise are generated in differentcircumstances, the information may include information about the varioustypes of noises. The determination also includes an identification ofthe frequencies and harmonics of the haptic system that are coupled backinto audio input stream of the mobile device. The haptic noise heard bya user may differ from the haptic noise that is coupled back to theaudio input stream. The noise may be transmitted to a user by adifferent mechanism than transmitted to the audio input. Some hapticnoise may, for example, flow through physical components of a mobiledevice or other information handling system into the audio subsystem.The haptic noise may be transmitted to a user through the air or throughearphones. In many embodiments, the characteristics of the haptic noisemay be represented digitally, as amplitudes of the noise at a series ofsampling points.

The mobile device or other information handling system receives an audioinput stream from the user at block 420. The user may be speaking fortransmission to another user at another mobile device, issuing a voicecommand, or otherwise generating sound for capture by the mobile device.The user may, for example, be recording music or sound effects for amovie. The mobile device or other information handling system may alsogenerate haptic noise. The generation may provide notice to a user orenable the user to better interact with the user interface of the mobiledevice. At block 430, the generation of haptic noise may be detected. Insome embodiments, the detection may be as a result of the integration ofthe haptic noise generation system and the audio input system. Thehaptic noise generation module may notify a haptic noise reductionmodule of the start of haptic noise generation, or a module thatinstructs the haptic noise generation module to begin the generation ofhaptic noise may also notify the haptic noise reduction module. In otherembodiments, the detection may be as the result of an acoustic trigger.A component of the mobile device or other information handling systemmay recognize the acoustic signature of the haptic noise and look forthat acoustic signature. In some embodiments, where a haptic noisegenerator such as haptic noise generator 110 of FIG. 1 produces multipletypes of haptic noise, the component may recognize multiple acousticsignatures of haptic noise.

The detection of the start of haptic noise generation may trigger hapticnoise cancellation or reduction at block 435. The cancellation orreduction may be performed by a module such as haptic noise reducer 115of FIG. 1. The cancellation may begin immediately with the detection orthe cancellation may occur after a lag. The lag may be calculated toallow haptic noise time to flow through components of a mobile device orother information handling system to a microphone and be converted toelectrical waves and digital data. At block 440, the haptic noise isremoved from the audio input stream. In some embodiments, thefrequencies and amplitudes representing the haptic noise and itsovertones may be subtracted from the audio input stream. At step 445,the audio stream with haptic noise removed may be output. It may, forexample, be transmitted to a user at another mobile device or input intoa voice command subsystem.

The method of FIG. 4 may enable the reduction or cancellation of hapticnoise without the need for a general-purpose noise-cancelling device.The general-purpose device may listen to sounds input to aninformation-handling system, may distinguish between noise andlegitimate input, and may try to cancel some of the noise. Such a devicerequires a component to detect the haptic noise, recognize it as noise,and base the cancellation on the detected noise. In contrast, in someembodiments of FIG. 4, haptic noise may be cancelled without listeningfor it. Instead, a haptic noise reduction module is notified when theproduction of haptic noise is instituted and can start cancelling thenoise without actually listening for it. In particular, the method ofFIG. 4 may enable the cancellation of haptic noise without the need fora separate microphone to capture background noise.

Other embodiments of FIG. 4 may operate with a special purpose noisedetector to recognize the acoustic signature of the haptic noise. Oncerecognized, the haptic noise reduction module may begin operation tocancel or otherwise reduce the noise. Some of these embodiments mayenable the reduction or elimination of haptic noise without recognitionof the full pattern of the noise. Instead, once an acoustic signature ofthe noise is recognized, the haptic noise removal system is triggeredand can operate based upon the pre-determined characteristics of thenoise, without a need to produce a complete digital representation ofthe currently generated noise. In both of these embodiments,cancellation of haptic noise can be performed with greater accuracy,because data about the noise to be cancelled has been obtained inadvance and may be obtained more accurately than can be obtained by thesound-detection portion of a general purpose noise-reduction device.

The method of FIG. 4 may also improve the operation of many mobiledevices and other information-handling systems that combine hapticgeneration and voice input. As the use of voice over Internet Protocol(VOIP) and voice recognition grows, the opportunity for haptic feedbackduring voice input has a larger potential to occur and may affect thequality and ability to recognize the input audio stream properly. Someembodiments of FIG. 4 may enable a mobile device or otherinformation-handling system to remove the haptic noise before it isstreamed or processed into the audio output, thereby providing the bestuser experience possible without limiting the capabilities of theplatform. In particular, in a few embodiments, the method of FIG. 4 mayavoid a tradeoff between a level of haptic noise sufficient to alert auser and a level low enough not to interfere with voice input to thesystem.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an informationhandling system 500, including a first physical processor 502 coupled toa first host bus 504 and can further include additional processorsgenerally designated as nth physical processor 506 coupled to a secondhost bus 508. The first physical processor 502 can be coupled to achipset 510 via the first host bus 504. Further, the nth physicalprocessor 506 can be coupled to the chipset 510 via the second host bus508. The chipset 510 can support multiple processors and can allow forsimultaneous processing of multiple processors and support the exchangeof information within information handling system 500 during multipleprocessing operations.

According to one aspect, the chipset 510 can be referred to as a memoryhub or a memory controller. For example, the chipset 510 can include anAccelerated Hub Architecture (AHA) that uses a dedicated bus to transferdata between first physical processor 502 and the nth physical processor506. For example, the chipset 510, including an AHA enabled-chipset, caninclude a memory controller hub and an input/output (I/O) controllerhub. As a memory controller hub, the chipset 510 can function to provideaccess to first physical processor 502 using first bus 504 and nthphysical processor 506 using the second host bus 508. The chipset 510can also provide a memory interface for accessing memory 512 using amemory bus 514. In a particular embodiment, the buses 504, 508, and 514can be individual buses or part of the same bus. The chipset 510 canalso provide bus control and can handle transfers between the buses 504,508, and 514.

According to another aspect, the chipset 510 can be generally consideredan application specific chipset that provides connectivity to variousbuses, and integrates other system functions. For example, the chipset510 can be provided using an Intel® Hub Architecture (IHA) chipset thatcan also include two parts, a Graphics and AGP Memory Controller Hub(GMCH) and an I/O Controller Hub (ICH). For example, an Intel 820E, an815E chipset, or any combination thereof, available from the IntelCorporation of Santa Clara, Calif., can provide at least a portion ofthe chipset 510. The chipset 510 can also be packaged as an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The information handling system 500 can also include a video graphicsinterface 522 that can be coupled to the chipset 510 using a third hostbus 524. In one form, the video graphics interface 522 can be anAccelerated Graphics Port (AGP) interface to display content within avideo display unit 526. Other graphics interfaces may also be used. Thevideo graphics interface 522 can provide a video display output 528 tothe video display unit 526. The video display unit 526 can include oneor more types of video displays such as a flat panel display (FPD) orother type of display device.

The information handling system 500 can also include an I/O interface530 that can be connected via an I/O bus 520 to the chipset 510. The I/Ointerface 530 and I/O bus 520 can include industry standard buses orproprietary buses and respective interfaces or controllers. For example,the I/O bus 520 can also include a Peripheral Component Interconnect(PCI) bus or a high speed PCI-Express bus. In one embodiment, a PCI buscan be operated at approximately 66 MHz and a PCI-Express bus can beoperated at more than one speed, such as 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz. PCI busesand PCI-Express buses can be provided to comply with industry standardsfor connecting and communicating between various PCI-enabled hardwaredevices. Other buses can also be provided in association with, orindependent of, the I/O bus 520 including, but not limited to, industrystandard buses or proprietary buses, such as Industry StandardArchitecture (ISA), Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI),Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C), System Packet Interface (SPI), orUniversal Serial buses (USBs).

In an alternate embodiment, the chipset 510 can be a chipset employing aNorthbridge/Southbridge chipset configuration (not illustrated). Forexample, a Northbridge portion of the chipset 510 can communicate withthe first physical processor 502 and can control interaction with thememory 512, the I/O bus 520 that can be operable as a PCI bus, andactivities for the video graphics interface 522. The Northbridge portioncan also communicate with the first physical processor 502 using firstbus 504 and the second bus 508 coupled to the nth physical processor506. The chipset 510 can also include a Southbridge portion (notillustrated) of the chipset 510 and can handle I/O functions of thechipset 510. The Southbridge portion can manage the basic forms of I/Osuch as Universal Serial Bus (USB), serial I/O, audio outputs,Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), and ISA I/O for the informationhandling system 500.

The information handling system 500 can further include a diskcontroller 532 coupled to the I/O bus 520, and connecting one or moreinternal disk drives such as a hard disk drive (HDD) 534 and an opticaldisk drive (ODD) 536 such as a Read/Write Compact Disk (R/W CD), aRead/Write Digital Video Disk (R/W DVD), a Read/Write mini-Digital VideoDisk (R/W mini-DVD), or other type of optical disk drive.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailherein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the methodsdescribed in the present disclosure can be stored as instructions in acomputer readable medium to cause a processor, such as chipset 510, toperform the method. Additionally, the methods described in the presentdisclosure can be stored as instructions in a non-transitory computerreadable medium, such as a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, a flashmemory, and the like. Accordingly, all such modifications are intendedto be included within the scope of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

When referred to as a “device,” a “module,” or the like, the embodimentsdescribed herein can be configured as hardware. For example, a portionof an information handling system device may be hardware such as, forexample, an integrated circuit (such as an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), astructured ASIC, or a device embedded on a larger chip), a card (such asa Peripheral Component Interface (PCI) card, a PCI-express card, aPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card,or other such expansion card), or a system (such as a motherboard, asystem-on-a-chip (SoC), or a stand-alone device). The device or modulecan include software, including firmware embedded at a device, such as aPentium class or PowerPC™ brand processor, or other such device, orsoftware capable of operating a relevant environment of the informationhandling system. The device or module can also include a combination ofthe foregoing examples of hardware or software. Note that an informationhandling system can include an integrated circuit or a board-levelproduct having portions thereof that can also be any combination ofhardware and software.

Devices, modules, resources, or programs that are in communication withone another need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices, modules,resources, or programs that are in communication with one another cancommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

Although only a few exemplary embodiments have been described in detailherein, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that manymodifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments withoutmaterially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of theembodiments of the present disclosure. Accordingly, all suchmodifications are intended to be included within the scope of theembodiments of the present disclosure as defined in the followingclaims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to coverthe structures described herein as performing the recited function andnot only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system comprising: a haptic generation module to generate haptic effects including haptic noise; and an audio input module to capture audio input and to produce digital data representing the audio input, including: a haptic noise reduction module to: receive characteristics of sound representative of haptic noise entering the audio input module, the characteristics including frequencies and pulse periods; detect generations of haptic effects, the generations occurring after the characteristics are received; and reduce effects of haptic noise on the digital data based upon the received characteristics of the sound; wherein the detection includes the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice of the generation of haptic effects.
 2. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein: the detection comprises the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice from the haptic generation module of the generation of haptic effects; a haptic command module is to command the haptic generation module to commence the generation of haptic effects; and the detection comprises the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice from the haptic command module of the generation of haptic effects.
 3. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein: the haptic generation module generating haptic effects including haptic noise comprises the haptic generation module generating a first type of haptic noise and a second type of haptic noise; the haptic noise reduction module receiving characteristics of sound comprises the haptic noise reduction module receiving characteristics of sound representative of the first type of haptic noise and the second type of haptic noise; and the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice of the generation of haptic effects comprises the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice of the generation of haptic effects and notice of which of the two types of haptic noise is being generated.
 4. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein: the information handling system comprises: a codec to convert electrical impulses representing the audio input into digital data; and a codec controller to control the codec; and the reducing effects of haptic noise comprises the codec controller issuing commands to the codec.
 5. The information handling system of claim 1 wherein: the audio input module comprises a haptic noise recognition module to recognize a characteristic signature of the haptic noise generated by the haptic generation module; and the haptic noise recognition module is to notify the haptic noise reduction module on the generation of haptic noise.
 6. A method comprising: determining characteristics of haptic noise generated by a haptic generation component of a computing device and entering an audio input module of the computing device, the characteristics including frequencies and timing; receiving an audio input stream; generating haptic noise; detecting generation of haptic effects after the receiving characteristics, wherein the detecting comprises detecting the generation of haptic effects and identifying a type of the generated haptic noise as the first type of haptic noise or the second type of haptic noise; and reducing effects of the haptic noise on the digital data based upon the characteristics of the haptic noise.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein: the determining comprises determining characteristics of a first type of haptic noise and a second type of haptic noise; the detecting comprises detecting the generation of haptic effects and identifying a type of the generated haptic noise as the first type of haptic noise or the second type of haptic noise; and the reducing comprises reducing effects of haptic noise on the digital data based upon the characteristics of the identified type of haptic noise.
 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the determining characteristics comprises determining characteristics experimentally.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining characteristics experimentally comprises performing experiments on other computing devices similar to the computing device and not performing experiments on the computing device.
 10. The method of claim 6 wherein the determining characteristics comprises determining characteristics based on modeling the traversal of haptic noise through the computing device into the audio input of the computing device.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the modeling comprises modeling a traversal of haptic noise through a chassis of the computing device and through a printed circuit board of the computing device.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein: the audio input module of the computing device includes an omni-directional microphone; and the modeling comprises modeling the omni-directional microphone capturing haptic noise directed to a user, the captured haptic noise thereby entering the audio input module.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the modeling further comprises modeling a traversal of haptic noise through a chassis of the computing device and through a printed circuit board of the computing device.
 14. The method of claim 6 wherein the generating is deliberately generating haptic effects in order to provide notice or feedback to a user of the computing device to the user.
 15. The method of claim 6 wherein the generating is deliberately generating haptic effects in order to provide notice or feedback to a user of the computing device to the user.
 16. A haptic noise reduction module comprising: memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method including: receiving characteristics of sound representative of haptic noise generated by a haptic generation module of a device and entering an audio input module of the device, the characteristics including frequencies, timing, and pulse periods; detecting generations of haptic effects, the generations occurring after the characteristics are received; and reducing effects of haptic noise on digital data representing audio input to the device based upon the received characteristics of the sound, wherein the characteristics are received before receiving the digital data.
 17. The haptic noise reduction module of claim 16 wherein the detection comprises the haptic noise reduction module receiving notice from the haptic generation module of the generation of haptic effects.
 18. The haptic noise reduction module of claim 16 wherein: the audio input module comprises a haptic noise recognition module to recognize a characteristic signature of haptic noise; and the detecting comprises the haptic noise recognition module signaling the haptic noise reduction module on the generation of haptic noise. 